(A) Running at large. Any designee of the city’s law enforcement agency or representative/contractor of the city or citizen may impound any dog found unlicensed or any dog found running at large and shall give notice of the impounding to the owner of such dog or other animal, if known. In case the owner is unknown, the impounding person shall post a notice at the City Hall that if the dog is not claimed within five regular business days of the posting of the notice, it will be sold or otherwise disposed of according to State Statute § 35.71. Except as otherwise provided in this section, it shall be unlawful to kill, destroy, or otherwise cause injury to any animal, including dogs running at large.
(B) Animal bites and quarantine. Whenever any animal shall have bitten a person or there is a good reason to believe that such animal has bitten a person, this incident should be reported within 24 hours to the city’s law enforcement agency and thereafter the owner of such animal shall comply with the instructions of the department concerning the animal. An animal which bites a person shall be quarantined for ten days, if ordered by the law enforcing agent or health authority. During such quarantine, the animal shall be securely confined and kept from contact with any other animal. The quarantine may be on the premises of the owner if approved by the enforcing agent. If the enforcing agent requires other confinement, the owner shall place the animal in a veterinary hospital at the owner’s expense.
(C) Reclaiming. All animals conveyed to the animal control authority shall be kept, with kind treatment and sufficient food and water for the animal’s comfort, at least five regular business days, unless sooner reclaimed by their owners or keepers as provided by this section. In case the owner or keeper shall desire to reclaim the animal from the animal control authority, the following shall be required, unless otherwise provided for in this code:
(1) Payment of a release fee as set in the fee schedule;
(2) Payment of maintenance costs, as provided by the pound, per day or any part of day while animal is in the pound; and
(3) Proof of a valid certificate of vaccination for rabies is required. If the owner is unable to provide proof of a current rabies vaccination, the owner shall agree in writing to vaccinate the dog and file a certificate of vaccination with the city within a two-week period of the date the dog was reclaimed from the pound.
(D) Unclaimed animals. At the expiration of five regular business days from the time any animal is impounded, if the animal has not been reclaimed in accordance with the provisions of this section, the representative appointed to enforce this chapter may let any person claim the animal by complying with all provisions set forth in this section. (M.S. § 35.71 subd. (3), states at the end of the five-day period, all animals which remain unredeemed must be made available to any licensed institution which has requested that number of animals.)
(E) Abandonment. It shall be unlawful to abandon any dog or other animal within the city. Any animal left by the owner, keeper, or caretaker beyond five working days after being notified, as required by § 90.15(A) by the animal control authority, shall be deemed abandoned and may be disposed of according to § 90.15(D). The owner of the abandoned animal shall be liable for payment of all fees and expenses incurred by the city for the care and/or disposal of the animal.
(Ord. 0303, passed 4-8-03; Am. Ord. 2103, passed 12-14-21)